Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Funny when a busy weekend ends, I look forward to the week days. The house is quite and I have time to get projects done. The joy of working from home.

I usually paint something because it is relaxing. I haven't even had time for that lately. So today I opened the blinds and let the sunshine in. Then....grabbed a paintbrush and some Annie Sloan decorative Chalk Paint.

Most of my painted furniture goes up for sale. Some stay a little longer because I become attached. I never realized I have always wanted a vanity. Till now. After I purchase a new bedroom set, I began to paint the vanity and fell in love.

I hand painted it to give it my little touch. Something that fits me for my bedroom. I even put my monogram on it.

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

I have had requests for a tutorial of my Duck Tape flowers. Finally getting around to it.

When I was atSNAPthe Duck Tape representatives had a display of flowers and some of the prettiest tape I have ever seen.

When I returned home I knew I was going to play with my little stash. I wanted to come up with something a little different. I have to warn you. This is not a conventional tutorial. I literally sat on my tufted sofa and wrapped tape around my finger till I came up with something I liked.

I cut the tape around 11/2" I used 10.

I did this one at a time. I put print side down and folded one corner in so the sticky side stuck together.

Fold the other side in to match. It should make a point,

Then the weird part starts. I begin to wrap my finger. Two pieces facing each other and wrapped around finger.

Those points stay straight up on the two, Do the same with 4 more being taped around in a square. Bend tips out then wrap around. Do 4 more alternating points in the bare spaces.

When complete roll a little piece and tick in center. I then used a scissor to cut slits up stem part to take off finger. I hope you are still following this! I told you it was different!

I used my flower to wrap around the center of my flip flops but you can use these for so many things.
Go take a look HERE!

Monday, May 20, 2013

This has always been a dream of mine. When I was in grammar school, I had a friend who would go there every year. She always wanted me to go with her. She is my best friend to this day. We have done a lot together but I never got the chance to go to Italy. Then my husband surprised me at Christmas with this trip. Now it is official because now we have booked it!

We have never done anything this huge before. You see my husband hasn't been in the best of health for years. I don't talk about it much. It has been a long hard road. Knowing we are both taking this trip together truly feels like a dream.

I worry about the walking he will do but he is determined to live his life even through the pain he has.
We have been planning and searching for what we would like to do there and finally decided to take a tour for 13 days.

There are so many things I want to experience while I am there. Being 100% Italian, I am excited to eat the food!! Pasta, pizza, seafood, cheeses, bread, gellato! YUM

and go to the wine vineyards and taste the wonderful fruits of the land.

These thoughts made me so hungry. So I decided to spend the day in the kitchen making a favorite of mine and my family. Smoked Turkey Veggie Pasta.

This recipe makes a lot and it is great to bring to a picnic. With the summer holidays approaching, this one is a delicious dish to share.

I need to start learning some Italian! I only know a few words and most are bad words! (Don't judge! I grew up in an Italian household!)

And because of that....I can share some awesome recipes with you! Some I have shared are Linguine and Shrimp and Pesto to name a few.

Buon Appetito!

Smoked Turkey Veggie Pasta

Ingredients:

11/2-2lbs of fettuccine

1/2lb of fresh broccoli cut into florets

2 medium zucchinis sliced thin

6-8 green onions thinly sliced

1 large red pepper cut in thin strips

1 6oz can pitted olives sliced and drained

4c of cooked smoked turkey cubed

2c cherry tomatoes

2/3c grated parmesan cheese

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

Basil Sauce

1/4 c basil chopped

2 cloves garlic

2 eggs

1/2 tsp mustard

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp lemon juice

1T wine vinegar

11/2 c olive oil

1/2 c sour cream

Fill pot with water and add salt (enough to make it salty) when it comes to a boil add pasta. Cook 10min or until al dente. ( a little firm) drain and place in a large bowl.

Add all vegetables and stir. Add remaining ingredients and stir. Make Basil Sauce in a food processor. This is made like a dressing. Combine basil and garlic and process for 30 seconds. Add egg and next 4 ingredients. Process 20 seconds. While running add oil slowly. Add sour cream and process for 5 seconds. Add to hot pasta and serve. This is great cold too! You can adjust recipe to taste.

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Hi Everyone! Before I get started, I want to thank you all for your support! I exceeded my followers through Hometalk to qualify for the trip to Lucketts this weekend because of you. I was blown away! Unfortunately, I did not win.

If you follow me on Facebook you know I got a sofa for my living room. It is from the Martha Stewart Collection at Macy's. It was delivered before I left for SNAP. I am just now getting around to posting about it.

I had been searching for a sofa like this for awhile. Then one day my sister tells me she found a sofa she wanted for her living room. Turns out to be the same one I had been looking at! We do this a lot!
She bought hers is a light grey and my color is called Vintage! It is a darker grey but it had to be custom ordered. I am loving it!

I will be redoing my living room and building around this beauty!

At the same time I am doing mine I will also be designing my sisters.

I started on hers yesterday. Turquoise and yellow will be her colors. Can't wait to share my design with you

She also got the chair that goes with this set. So stay tuned it for a living room redo!

Monday, May 13, 2013

Today is the last day for me to get 10 new followers on my Hometalk page! Unfortunately I just started to ask people! Ugh! Since I have been away I have been out of the loop. So I am asking, no, begging you to please go HERE and follow me on Hometalk.

I consider myself a small blog with a big heart! I love all my followers! When I heard about Hometalk coming up with a trip to Lucketts I wanted in! Only one lucky blogger gets to go. Yes I know it is a long shot but that's where YOU come in! When I get ten followers I qualify!!

Hometalk is a free, yes free, online Home and DIY community. You can ask questions and find great tips and tricks. Browse through thousands of posts/pictures to inspire and give you insight to your next project!